Needle hairbrush



Sept. 27, 1949. NEFF ETAL 2,482,928

NEEDLE HAI'RBRUSH Filed March 26, 1948 INVENTORS AususTA NEFF GEORGE w. NEF-F ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27, 1949 OFFICE NEEDLE HAIRBRUSH Augusta N eff and George W. Neil, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,193

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to toilet brushes and more particularly to an improved construction of hair brush' especially adapted for use to massage and invigorate the scalp and hair, this application being a continuation in part of our co-pending application, Serial No. 717,496, filed December 20, 1946 and now abandoned.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is the construction of a hair brush characterized by the provision of a plurality of more or less closely spaced bristles each of which is in the form of a relatively rigid or inflexible needlelike element having a capacity for axial as well as angular movement-with respect to the face ofthe brush through which the bristles project, the bristles being each so resiliently mounted in and supported by the head of the brush as to impart thereto in the region of each bristle a localized resiliency enabling thefree extremities of the bristles, considered as a group, to simultaneously conform to the contour of the head and so exert a substantially uniform pressure over the area of the scalp undergoing massage.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a hair brush of the character aforesaid which is constructed principally of readily assembled molded plastic parts, which is simple and inexpensive of construction and which is light in weight and aesthetic in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it

being understood that said invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawingsjand as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which il1ustrate preferred constructions'of brush embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bristle face of the brush with portions thereof broken away to expose internal details of its construction;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the brush;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing in enlarged scale the normal position assumed by a single bristle of the brush;

Figures 5 and 6 are similar fragmentary views illustrating the permissible movements of the single bristle relatively to its mounting;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of a modified construction of the brush; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the relation of certain component parts of the modified brush construction of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, it will be observed that the brush of the present invention comprises a main body member l0 preferably molded of plastic material to provide a recessed part II having an integral handle l2. If desired, the handle I 2 maybe omitted, the part II being then adapted to be held directly in the palm of the hand. Although it'is preferred to mold the body member of the brush of plastic material, it is to be understood that such body, with or without a handle, may be'formed of any other material, such as'metal, wood, hard rubber, or other suitable composition of matter, it being only necessary that the body member be recessed as shown to provide a relatively thin-walled backing l3 the perimetral edge of which is shouldered, as at I4, to form a seat for reception of a perforated face plate l5. Preferably, the solid rear wall iii of the recessed part H is longitudinally and transversely dished, as is the face plate l5, so that when these parts are permanently assembled, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, they form a rigid hollow casing of generally oval shape in longitudinal and transverse cross-section. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the face plate IS in permanent assembly with the backing l3.

The face plate is provided with a plurality of more or less closely spaced apertures [6 each of which is undercut, as at H, for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter, the spacing of these apertures being substantially uniform throughout the full area of the face plate. Adapted for projection outwardly through each of the apertures I6 is a bristle element It formed of a solid material, preferably plastic, each such bristle element being provided at its inner end with an enlarged head l9 and with an outer shank portion 20 of reduced diameter terminating in a smoothly rounded, blunt end 2|. Although it is preferred to form the bristle elements l8 of the stepped configuration shown, it will be understood that the shape of the bristle shank may be varied as desired, it being only required that the base of v the shank immediately adjoining the enlarged head I9 be of a diameter sufficient to snugly fit the restricted outer portion of the aperture l8 through which the bristle is outwardly projected. Thus, each bristle element may be of elongated conical form to provide it with a shank of the requisite base diameter and with a relatively elements [8 may becast,

of the hea aaeaeze small diameter apex or external end. The bristle molded or otherwise formed of any suitable material, such as plastic above referred to, hard rubber, metal or the like.

In its preferred construction, the hollow casing formed of the assembled backing l3 and face plate [5 is internally fitted with a cushion 22 of suitable resilient material, which may be solid or porous Materiarsuitable fc'rthls purpose may be foam or sponge rubber or any other such material having the requite properties of resiliency and compressibility. Overlying the outer surface of this internal resilient cushiohfii is a water-impervious sheet 23 of ,flexi-ble material, such as rubber, rubberized fabric, or the like, said sheet being thus in direct contact with the rear ends of the enlarged heads lBdf thebfitle elements I8.

that the several bristle elements 18 are respectively projected throug'hthe apertures 16 of the tofinalias'sembly of the latter fp citi g-l3, "it being eviass''mjbled'the outer measurtheir fullyexteiided'iiosltibnsa's shown in Figures 3andfl4. 4,..1

anp

Itwill surface fu' fdeigdin I y y essasira s m m the bristles that their outer ends may terminate in a fl at surface, -as indicated by the dotted --li h 'a of- -;'t i gure;l 2 or.;i n an irregularly curved surface as indicated by the-dotted line b. I

In any caseg the bristles are individually-each subjected to a1 :onsjtant uniformly applied pressure, thereby increasingtbe massaging 'eifectiveness orthe ably best illustrated :ln, and "6, in the first of which bristle -ds shown shif-ted inwardly of the perforated-{ace plate It with its axis coincident with thatiofqthe perforation "16 through whichitproiects, In Figure-6, the'bris- 0 tie is shown axially shifted inwardly'of theface plate along anaXis inclined with respect "-to that of'its face-plate aperture. Thus-during all manipulatiens of the brush to providea thonou'gh and vigorous -m a;ssa.ge, the several bristles may individually shift relatiyely' to the face plate without, however, --any reduction in pressure exerted outwardly by the bristles against the massaged surface-this pressure being maintained substantiallyu-ni-form by the resiliency and compressibility ;-of the internal cushion22 pressing against the inner end-sot the bristles. This'pressuresolocally exertedupon each'bristle element is maintainedeven when'the brush' is subjected to a rotary motiomduring the'massag'ing opera tion, in'which-case the bristleelements ar'e'free to move in such manner *that their outer ends each describe a relatively large 'circle while their inner ends are -=restricted *against substantial movement.

In the modified construction" of -brush -sho' wn in Figures *l-andfi, thehiternal resilient eushlen 22 is omitted-and-indieu therebf' a' series or'nat spring steel-members'flbr the like are employed for urging the'bristleelementsbutwardly of their ll f fimfi 1382285 the enlarged a v istl s and resiliently twiii yertne faceplate '15 into such as the scalp The individual each bristle a 'isprob- It will be understood, of course,

H b si'ssversl bristle ele- 'ments f8jarese nd dually' sh'iftable relatively backing l3. While the arrangement of Figures '7 *aiid'il-does not quite provide the high degree of localized resiliency for the bristles as in the arrangementof Figures 1 to 6, it nevertheless provides the brush with an eifective massaging action ln ebcordarree with the principles of the present invention.

'It will be understood, of course, that the brush of the present inventifin is susceptible of various changes and modifications in addition to those 'hereinbefore 'descrbed, all without departing from the generalfpnnclplesbrreal spirit of the present invention, and it accort'dingly intended to claim the "samefiitiamyas'Well as specifically as indicated thea'lfpriiiedclaims.

What is claimed asiiewana useful is:

1. In abrushofthechafaeter assented, a main body nieinber'llavinga"icfssforliied therein, a perforated inflexible sate-plate rigidly secured to "said'bo'd'y mmbr'w e'n'lds'e'saidrecess, a plurality of rigid bristlvleaiieiitsrespectivel projecting loosely: tlifliiihxlieperforations of said face plate, said bristleilni t'sbeihg axially movable inde endently for "e'acnother through the perfdratiofis off-said *Iaee" plate, and resilient means aispdsamminsharecess and operative to imposeganofitivaid bias iiponsaid bristle elements "to maintaining salne -iici'r'inally fully extended outwardlybf'siiid'faceblate.

2. In a'brush'bf the character described, a hol- 10W bilay mhibf'fifil'llfig a. ()f spaced inflexible walls one bfivliihis, vi'd'ed'wi'th a plurality of apertures unirdrnllysp uu throughout substantiauytheeritnearea tlirdf, a plurality of rigid bristle "elements respectively projectin 'loos'elythr'ough"saidapertures, said bristle elementsbeingaxially movable through the perforated wall'with each drsaldbnsue' elements having an enlargement at its inner end engageable with the apertufedwallto lirxiitinovement of the "element outwardly assent-van, and means disposed internally of "'saldhollow body member for resiliently engagii'lgEald inner enlargements of the'bristleelm'h'ts 't'o' resiliently urge the latter 'outwardly'of 's'aidfjapeituredwall, said inner enlargements"ofsaldbfletle'flmentsbeing in frictional. pivotal engagement-"with said internal means to'perniitsaid ensue elements to gyrate about the axes of the'prf draitib'ns" through which they project. y g

3. ln-abrushdi the"character'described, a hol- "mnt of 'thee'ler'neiitodtjwardly'of said wall, and

v ns qispssq mre'mally for said hollow body member ferres'iliedtlyjengagings'aid inner enlar'gmnt erthe bi'lstleeleinents to resiliently 15 urge the latter-"outwardly "ofsaidapertured wall,

said bristle elements being individually axially shiftableinwardly of said apertured wall against the compressive force exerted by said internal means.

4. In a brush of the character described, a main body member having a recess formed in one side thereof, a perforated inflexible face plate secured to said body member to overlie the open end of said recess, a plurality of headed bristle elements projected respectively loosely through the perforations of said face plate with the headed ends thereof disposed interiorly of said face plate to limit outward movement of the bristle elements relatively to said face plate, said apertures of the face plate being each undercut to permit angul r movement of each bristle element relatively to the axis of the aperture through which it projects, and resilient means disposed within said recess and engageable with the headed ends of said bristle elements to normally urge the latter outwardly of said perforated plate while permitting the same to be individually shifted axially inwardly of said perforated plate.

AUGUSTA NEFF. GEORGE W. NEFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,364,971 Alexander Jan. 11, 1921 1,518,480 Buchanan Dec. 9, 1924 

